In agreement with the orders of June 18 and 23, 1898, Aguinaldo convoked the

Progressive Congress at Barasoain, Malolos. Peace and arrange conditions in a few

territories were such that Aguinaldo was compelled to designate their delegates to
Congress. Thus, on September 4, he named fifty delegates to the Congress. This
number was expanded by ten on September 10. The number of delegates to the Congress
changed from time to time. In the morning of September 15, the basilica at
Barasoain was filled with delegates and onlookers. Exterior, the Banda Pasig played
the National Song of devotion. When Aguinaldo and his officers arrived, the
delegates, the cream of the Filipino coherence, spread out to donate way to the
President. With the President situated, the secretary perused the names of the
delegates, after which Aguinaldo was presented. Cries of "Viva!" resonated and
Aguinaldo recognized the commendation of the assembly. At that point he stood up
and examined his message, to begin with in Tagalog, at that point in